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There continues to be some movement among US states regarding online poker and iGaming in general. The latest comes in Illinois where two state representatives introduced an Internet gaming bill this week.

The legislation would legalize all forms of online gaming including poker. Rep. Robert Rita (D) and Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D) co-sponsored the bill.

Carroll spoke this week with USPoker about the bill and what it could mean for the state.

What’s in the bill and what does it mean for online poker players?

The Illinois bill is officially known as the Internet Gaming Act (IGA) and would legalize real money online casino gaming, slots, and poker. The Illinois Gaming Board would be charged with regulating the industry.

After legalizing online sports betting last summer, online gaming appears next up. At least Carroll and Rita are hoping so.

The IGA would allow for the state’s casinos and racetracks to offer up to three gaming skins. Those properties could partner with other online gaming companies as seen in other states.

Online gaming would be taxed at 12% of gross gaming revenue with $10 million set aside to treat problem gambling. If approved, Illinois would become the sixth state to legalize online poker.

“It’s been discussed over the past few years,” Carroll said of the bill and legalizing online gaming. “But with the success with online sports wagering it seemed like an appropriate time to further explore this idea.”

Carroll has received some positive reviews from colleagues and believes the bill has a chance at passage. Gov. JB Pritzker (D) hasn’t commented, but Carroll believes he’d sign the bill if approved by the state house and senate.

“I haven’t had a conversation with him about it, but I don’t see why he’d oppose this considering how supportive he was of sports wagering,” he said. “I’ve had constituents reach out and want to see this done yesterday. It’s been very positive.

“I’m a very bad poker player, but I believe this will be huge for us and people will enjoy the experience.”

What would an Illinois online poker market look like?

Regulated online poker in Illinois would be a considerable addition to the list of legalized US states. That includes

• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Michigan
• Nevada
• West Virginia

Online poker in Michigan officially launched in January when PokerStars went live. West Virginia has yet to see a poker site enter the market.

A federal appeals court recently struck down a Department of Justice opinion on the Wire Act. The court ruled that the act applied to sports betting and not other forms of iGaming.

That’s cleared the way for possible expansion of interstate compacts for legal online poker sites. That would lead to larger player and prize pools. The Illinois bill gives the gaming board the authority to enter into these compacts.

Illinois has a population of about 12.7 million. That’s about 100,000 fewer than Pennsylvania, the largest state with legalized online poker.

The state brings a nice number to add to interstate compacts for shared liquidity. All five current legalized states combined with Illinois equal a total population of about 49 million.

With several legalized casinos, Illinois has a nice poker scene around the state. Regulation in the Prairie State would further add to online poker’s success in the US.

Passage in Illinois may bring online gaming quickly

While the wheels of government may move slowly, Carroll and Rita’s legislation makes an effort to launch iGaming fairly quickly. The IGA may be unique by attempting to fast-track efforts to get the industry off the ground.

Once approved, the legislation gives the gaming board 90 days to adopt emergency rules for the industry. The bill also requires the board to issue temporary licenses to companies already holding equivalent sports betting licenses.

Companies with online gaming licenses in other states could also receive temporary licenses. These measures could help ramp up the industry at a faster pace than seen in some states.

“I’d like to see this get done quickly and efficiently,” Carroll said. “We did that with sports wagering and the feedback has been great. If all goes well I believe this can be a reality by 2022.”

Additional details on the legislation

The bill also outlines some other interesting caveats, as reported by Online Poker Report earlier this week including:

• Allowing gaming company servers and computer systems to be located outside the state. Players only must wager within the state.
• Players could link their Illinois wagering account to those they may have set up in other states.

One negative for the industry may be a requirement for players to register in person at a casino or racetrack. Some sports betting markets have created these stipulations, suppressing participation.

Fortunately that measure would only be in place for the first six months.

As real money online poker continues to explode around the world, US players continue to have some reason for optimism. States like Kentucky, Indiana, North Dakota, and Connecticut have seen efforts underway recently for regulated iGaming.

Many jurisdictions are grappling with revenue shortages due to COVID-19. Internet gaming and poker offer added funds to state coffers. It seems likely more will get on board.

The post Illinois Legislator Discusses New Online Gaming and Poker Bill appeared first on .

After a three-month online poker battle with Daniel Negreanu at WSOP.com, Doug Polk is getting back in the action. The heads-up poker specialist and three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner comes to High Stakes Poker in March.

Polk highlights the last few episodes of the eighth season after PokerGO resurrected the iconic poker show. USPoker has learned that he’ll be featured along with some of the biggest names in poker.

Polk returns to live poker after huge win against Negreanu

High Stakes Poker features Polk getting back to live play for the first time since the initial session against Negreanu. That took place in November and was also on PokerGO.

The streaming service brought back the iconic poker show in 2020. The eight season features some of the biggest names in poker at the PokerGO Studio at Aria in Las Vegas.

Along with three World Series of Poker titles, Polk is also no stranger to online poker success as well. His poker career began by turning a $20 deposit on PokerStars into a $10,000 bankroll. He went on to become one of the best online cash game players in the game.

After some post-match analysis, Polk believes Negreanu was fortunate not to lose more than $1.2 million.

“Going through all my stats from this challenge,” Polk recently posted on Twitter. “My frequencies in so many of these spots were just phenomenal. It was weird playing an entire challenge with no data but I’m just so proud of the level of poker I played at for this thing.”

With the win against Negreanu now in the past, Polk looks to parlay some of that momentum. Polk should make for some interesting viewing and isn’t afraid to mix in some banter.

A dream to play on ‘High Stakes’

Along with Polk, the lineup for the last few episodes of High Stakes Poker features Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, Tom Dwan, Bryn Kenney, Brandon Steven, James Bord, and Jake Daniels. The players will be battling it out in $200-$400 No Limit Hold’em. 

For Polk, appearing on High Stakes Poker always seemed out of the realm of possibility. Before winning millions in the game, like many he was a fan who enjoyed televised poker.

“I’m extremely excited,” Polk told PokerGO of playing. “This is an iconic show. I grew up watching it. In fact, I grew up watching it as a kid and thinking how awesome it is just to see these players play, never had any idea or thought that I would one day get to play. It just seemed too unreal just to even possibly happen.

“So to get to go from that to actually playing in those games, it’s cool. It’s cool to know that I went on that journey and here we are today.”

Recently, Polk said he’s become bored again with poker and looked to step back from the game. High Stakes Poker appears to be an exception to that.

Can Polk book yet another nice win after so many months of high stakes action online? Viewers will find out soon. Polk has recently been considering what he might have won had the matchup with Negreanu been in a different currency.

Also I cannot confirm nor deny that bitcoin was sold for this purpose ffs why did this happen to me

— Doug Polk (@DougPolkVids) February 16, 2021

Dan Bilzerian among other big names in ‘High Stakes Poker’ current lineup

Fans of High Stakes Poker can also check out several other interesting names in the current lineup. Hellmuth, Ivey, and Dwan are among those currently in episodes 9-11. Dan Bilzerian is also currently featured on the show.

The social media icon and so-called “King of Instagram” recently signed a deal to become a GGPoker ambassador. Bilzerian claims to have won millions in private poker games. Poker fans will now get a chance to witness his skills at the table.

A few other names on the show include Jake Daniels, Brandon Adams, and Jason Koon. Daniels hails from Texas and has $1.3 million in live tournament winnings. He’s become a regular on the Las Vegas high roller scene at Aria and Wynn.

Adams returns to the show after appearing 13 years ago. His career highlights include a 2019 WSOP bracelet and more than $5 million in lifetime tournament winnings.

“This is incredible,” Adams told PokerGO about returning to the show. “I was fired up to play with Phil [Ivey] and Tom [Dwan] because I haven’t played with them in so long. In particular Tom, because I’ve played so much with him and hung out so much with him, but less so the past few years because he’s been based in Asia. I’m looking forward to playing with him again.”

One of the most successful players in poker, Koon has $31 million in live tournament winnings. He’s also currently a member of Team partypoker and has scored in some of the biggest events around the world.

The episode also features businessmen James Bord, Lazaro Hernandez, and Chamath Palihapitiya.

Contest allows fan to sit in on a ‘Poker After Dark’ episode on PokerGO

Along with High Stakes Poker, PokerGO continues producing episodes of the classic Poker After Dark. The network is now giving viewers a chance to sit in on the show.

Two-time WPT champion and PokerCoaching.com founder Jonathan Little will be playing $25/$50 No-Limit Hold’em on two upcoming episodes.

He’s also hosting a $5,000 sit and go with James Romero, Matt Affleck, Faraz Jaka, and others. Those who visit his site have a chance to earn a free entry into the event.

The winner will play on the episode with a chance to win as much as $30,000. The contest is open until July 31 and to enter, click here.

New episodes of High Stakes Poker debut every Wednesday at 8 pm (ET).

Photo courtesy PokerGO

The post Doug Polk Heads to ‘High Stakes Poker’ With Lineup Complete to Close Season appeared first on .

Online poker players in New Jersey can get in the ring this week and knock someone out. The partypoker US Network’s PKO Series is set for Feb. 21-28  with more than $250,000 guaranteed.

The schedule include eight progressive knockout (PKO) bounty tournaments. Event buy-ins range from $109 to $535. Players can also jump into the action by playing daily satellites that start at just $5.

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What is a PKO tournament? 

PKOs are a special type of bounty tournament. When a player eliminates an opponent, that player cashes in 50% of the opponent’s bounty. Those funds go directly into the winning player’s own account.

The other half of that opponent’s bounty is added to the bounty on the winning player’s head. Every knockout the player wins, the larger the price becomes on his own head.

Players like PKO events because of the extra bonus each time they take a player’s stack later in the tournament.

“My favorite online tournaments are bounty tournaments generally,” New Jersey poker player Richard Waldman says. “I like the idea of taking out a couple players early and knowing I am now freerolling the rest of the tournament.”

Some partypoker PKO Series highlights

Players looking to get in the knockout action have plenty of fun tournaments to check out. The $535 PKO Eight-Max main event caps the series on Feb. 28 with a $100,000 guarantee.

All eight events will feature No Limit Hold’em. The first event in the series is also sponsored by LearnWPT, the official training site of the World Poker Tour. The tournament comes with a little extra incentive.

All participating players in this event earn a three-month complimentary premium subscription to LearnWPT. In New Jersey, the partypoker US Network includes the BetMGM and BorgataPoker.com skins.

Players can participate on any of the three sites. Here’s a look a the complete series:

Plenty of promotions during series including a reward for the knockout king

As an extra incentive to play in the series, partypoker is offering something extra. The player with the most knockouts receives a $1,060 ticket to play in a $100,000 guaranteed event on March 28. Each knockout will be worth 1 point for each player.

Players can find other daily promotions and other tournaments during the series. This includes one of the most popular tournaments daily in New Jersey.

Partypoker’s $10,000 guaranteed tournament generates a consistent nightly field. The event is one of the longest running $10,000 guaranteed in the Garden State. Here’s a quick look at that event:

• Buy-in: $109
• Starting chips: 50,000 
• Late registration: re-entries allowed until end of Level 15
• Start time: 7 pm (ET)

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The post PKO Series Brings Knockout Action to Partypoker Players in New Jersey appeared first on .

GGPoker recently announced a new partnership with the Fantastic Ladies In Poker (FLIP). The group’s founder Daiva Byrne will also serve as GGPoker outreach and community advocate as part of the agreement.

The move is part of the company’s goal to reach out to women and grow the pool of online poker players.

“I’m excited to welcome FLIP to the GGPoker community, and am confident FLIP players will enjoy the GGPoker experience both on and off the tables,” GGPoker head of public relations Paul Burke said in a news release.

“It’s also great to have Daiva as part of our team, and I know she’ll turbo-charge our efforts to be genuinely inclusive and make absolutely every kind of player welcome at GGPoker.”

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Growing the online game at GGPoker

GG describes FLIP as “the poker world’s foremost female-focused player community.” The group has a vibrant and active Facebook community of 3,500 female poker players.

Many poker sites and tours have been working to bring more women into the game in recent years.

As part of the new agreement, GGPoker plans unique promotions aimed to grow the FLIP community. Members will have access to exclusive tournaments and other benefits.

“GGPoker is committed to ensuring that all poker players feel welcome at the tables,” the company noted, “and looks forward to welcoming many new players, particularly FLIP members, over the coming weeks.”

Byrne joins the GGPoker team

Along with adding FLIP as a partner, Byrne joins GG in a new role. As GG’s outreach and community advocate, she’ll provide ongoing advice on strategies and initiatives.

The company hopes these ideas can help engage with a wide variety of poker player communities.

“I’m delighted FLIP is partnering with GGPoker, who shares our vision for a more inclusive future in poker,” Byrne said.

“I’m also thrilled to work with a brand dedicated to developing innovations that resonate with the poker community.”

GG has grown tremendously over the last few years. Players enjoy the software experience. That includes some unique options like a staking feature, which allows players to stake each right in the poker client.

GGPoker continues making news

The FLIP agreement is just the latest headline for GG. The company received approval last week for a manufacturer’s license in Pennsylvania.

This offers the company access to the US market for the first time. However, the manufacturer’s license only grants GG the ability to provide technology and software for a partner.

To run and brand its own site, the company would need an operator’s license. The agreement at least allows GG to possibly unveil its online poker software in the state in some form.

The company could also work for an operator’s license at a later date. GGPoker has made its plans clear to continue expanding and that includes in the US.

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The post GGPoker FLIPs Out for Partnership with Women’s Poker Group, Hopes to Reach Out to New Poker Players appeared first on .

The good vibes continue in February and March for US online poker players. Players in Pennsylvania and New Jersey will find $2 million in guaranteed prizes from Feb. 20 to March 8 as part of the third edition of the PokerStars Bounty Builder Series.

Beyond big guarantees, winners in both states also take home some hardware. The series features special championship events with Bounty Builder championship belts also awarded.

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What to expect from PokerStars PA

In Pennsylvania, the series features a $1.5 million guarantee. The progressive knockout (PKO) schedule offers players 75 events with buy-ins starting at $10. 

For those new to a PKO, the variant offers a unique version of a bounty tournament. Like a traditional bounty, a player knocking out another player earns some extra bucks for the elimination.

However in a PKO, a portion of that bounty is also added to the winner’s bounty. This makes players’ bounties increase throughout the tournament with larger bounty amounts on the line later.

The progressive bounty aspect adds some extra twists to a bounty tournament. The events have become popular with players for this extra fun thrown in the tournament mix.

The $200 Main Event is set for March 7 featuring a guaranteed prize pool of $150,000. Players can also look forward to two special editions of the Sunday Special each with $100,000 guaranteed. Those events are set for Feb. 21 and 28.

On Feb. 24, players with bigger bankrolls can check out the $1,000 Super High Roller with $75,000 guaranteed. Here’s a look at the complete schedule.

2021 PokerStars PA Bounty Builder Series

Big bounty action also planned for PokerStars NJ 

In New Jersey, the Bounty Builder schedule includes 58 events with buy-ins starting at $10.

The $300 Main Event runs on March 7 with a  $75,000 guarantee. The $30 Mini Main Event on the same day comes with a $5,000 guarantee.

As in the PA series, there are numerous other options with several poker versions to check out. Here’s a look at the complete schedule.

2021 PokerStars NJ Bounty Builder Series

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Some added promotions for Bounty Builder players

Along with a packed schedule, players have some other opportunities to get in the action and win. In New Jersey, players can qualify for less via special $3 Spin & Go’s. 

In both states, players can look forward to a $16,000 KO Leaderboard. Players who knock out the most Bounty Builder players will win a $4,000 prize.

The launch of the Bounty Builder means three separate tournament series running in all PokerStars markets.

The site launched in Michigan in January and the Michigan Championship of Online Poker (MICOOP) also runs Feb. 20 to March 8 with $1 million guaranteed.

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